Police release 'emotional, graphic' photos of Omaha standoff

Police have released images of the man killed by police following a two-hour standoff

By PoliceOne Staff

OMAHA — Police have released two images of the man killed by police following a two-hour standoff.

Tyree Bell, 31, was shot and killed Tuesday morning, after police arrived to investigate a domestic disturbance, and Bell refused to surrender.

(Omaha Police Dept. Image)

According to NBC6, a 911 caller told dispatch that there were two children in the home, 3-year-old twins, and Bell’s fiancé.

The fiancé fled the house when police arrived around 4 a.m.

After negotiating, Bell let his daughter go, but kept his son, who is seen in the images.

Police Chief Todd Schmaderer – who described the photos from cruiser cam video as emotional and graphic -- said Bell repeatedly held his son in front of him while aiming a shotgun at police, rendering the police defenseless, fearing for the boy’s safety.

“Mr. Bell put his son down inside the house and appeared on the front porch with a shotgun and the rifle in each hand,” said Schmaderer. “Mr. Bell raised up both firearms and pointed them at officers. At this time, four officers discharged their duty weapons striking Mr. Bell numerous times."

Officers Douglas Arrick, Carl Hanson, Chithauta Hester, and Alan Peatrowsky are on administrative leave pending an investigation, as a standard procedure, according to the article.